Txamantxoia / Maz (1,941m) and Lapakiza Linzola (2,104m) from the Rincón de Belagua.

ByTravesía Pirenaica
The Txamantxoia / Maz seen from the ascent to Lapakiza Linzola
Circular 6h35min / 7h 20.5 km +1.730 m / -1.730 m

From Mata de Haya to Txamantxoia by the usual ascent from Arrako. Descent to the Aztaparreta pass and ascent to Lapakiza Linzola. Descent via the Peña del Rey.

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The Txamantxoia or Maz (1.945m) y Lapakiza Linzola or Paquiza de Linzola (2.104m)are two well-known mountains, especially among Navarrese mountaineers, which separate the valleys of Belagua (Navarre) and Zuriza (Huesca). Although it is true that the whole of the high area of the Paquiza de Linzola belongs entirely to the valley of Ansó in Huesca.

The easiest and most common way to reach these two summits is separately, from the Linza refuge. From here it is only a 600m climb up the Txamantxoia and in 800m the Paquiza de Linzola. Towards the Ansota slope, the Txamantxoia shows an elegant and pointed silhouette. The Paquiza de Linzola, on the other hand, is a cow slope, a thousand and one times overlooked in excursions such as the one on the Three Kings Table or the Petrechema.

In the Belagua valley, from where we propose this hike, the difference in altitude is greater and the route is longer. Towards this valley, the only one of glacial origin in Navarre, the Txamantxoia appears as an elongated hill that progressively loses height from east to west. Its slopes are covered by a leafy forest and its summit is clear, closing the flat bottom of this beautiful valley dotted with farms (some of which produce cheese) to the south. Looking towards the corner of Belagua, in the background we find the wide east face of the Paquiza de Linzola, a foretaste of what awaits us in the Pyrenees from now on.

The route we propose is unusual in that it links both peaks in the same day. The route starts at Rincón de Belagua, in the well-known Mata de Haya car park. We will start by following the GR321.2 (a variant of the Camino Real) until we reach the usual path by which we usually climb from Arrako. The path climbs steadily through the forest and then across meadows to Txamantxoia. To reach Lapakiza Linzola, we first descend to the Aztaparreta pass, crossing a small area of forest with no path. The descent from Lapakiza is towards the northern slope, where we link up with the GR12. We have chosen to descend to Mata de Haya along the Peña del Rey path. If you prefer the descent via the Larrería pass, it is marked in white and yellow (PR-NA 203).

Technical specifications:

Distance: 20.5 kms.
Cumulative difference in altitude: +1.730m/-1.730m.
Timetable: about 7 hours. Walking time non-stop: 6 hours 35 minutes.
Water: In the lower area there are some streams crossing each other. The spring in Mata de Haya is marked "not drinkable".
Difficulty: the accumulated difference in altitude is significant. Without ice there is no technical difficulty, otherwise, the descent from Txamantxoia to Aztaparreta will be the most exposed.
Recommended equipment: boots or slippers, two walking sticks, canteen, GPS useful.

Itinerary:

(0h00min; 0,0kms) Mata de Haya (980m). This is the starting point for a number of excursions in the area. Among others, there are information panels on the following footpaths: SL-NA 81, PR-NA 203, Sendero de los Sentidos (adapted for wheelchairs), GR 321.2 and the ascents to Lapakiza Linzola and La Mesa de los Tres Reyes. There is also a non-potable spring nearby.

Following the red and white waymarks of the GR321.2 in the direction of Isaba, after passing a barrier, take a detour to the right that crosses a beautiful beech forest.

Postcard beech forest.

Although all this part is full of paths, we will have no problems in finding the route if we follow the GR321.2 and SL-NA 81 paintings.

Once on the slopes of Txamantxoia, the path follows the course of the valley downhill. In the area around La Dronda, the GR 321.2 and the local path SL-NA 81 separate (0h25min; 1,6kms). We continue following the signs for the long distance footpath, enjoying the views towards the valley of Belagua, Keleta and Bimbalet.

Keleta and Bimbalet on the other side of the valley.

Further on (0h45min; 3.1kms), our path joins the main route of the GR321 (Camino Real) next to the banks of the river Belagua. The path, which comes from the nearby Arrako car park, the usual starting point for the ascent of Txamantxoia, begins to climb halfway up the slope. After one kilometre, keep an eye out so as not to miss the path up to Txamantxoia, marked with a milestone.

(1h00min; 4,1kms) Path uphill Txamantxoia (970m). At this point we leave the GR321 to take a path to the left. The path goes upwards all the time, without a break, through a leafy pine forest and some beech forest areas.

Mixed forest with an abundance of pine trees.

In about 12 minutes we cross a track. The path continues to climb until it reaches a...

(1h40min; 5,7kms) big clearing (1.392m) where it disappears. Here we turn right, not along the horizontal path, but following some milestones on an ascending path to the right.

View back to the clearing with Keleta, Bimbalet and Lakora in the background.

After this small bend we continue on our way, gaining metres on the slope. Further up, we will cross a last stretch of trees before coming out onto the meadows at the top, where we will follow the hill without getting lost, enjoying the views.

Walking on the long ridge of Txamontxoia.

(2h55min; 9,3kms) Txamantxoia / Maz (1.941m). A geodesic vertex and a mountaineer's letterbox crown the summit.

Top of Txamantxoia with the Zuriza mountains in the background.

On the other side, Linza and the peaks of the neighbouring Ansó valley.

Below Linza. Among the peaks, the Chinebral de Gamueta stands out in the centre.

To go down, descend to the left of the ridge in a northeasterly direction. The path is somewhat diffuse in the first stretch, until it meets a path marked in green and yellow a little further down.

Descent towards the Aztaparreta pass.

We will follow it until we reach a kind of false hill that we find in the interior of the forest, paying close attention to the moment when it separates from the ridge to start descending to the right towards Linza. At this point we leave the path to descend a few metres down the left (north) slope. It is a matter of advancing close to the ridge following our intuition until we reach the...

(3h30min; 10,7kms) Aztaparreta pass (1.562m)We then join a well-marked path that climbs up from Linza.

The path leaves the forest behind to continue up the ridge of the crest of the hill until...

View back towards the Txamantxoia.

(4h40min; 13,4kms) Lapakiza Linzola (2.104m).

Top of the Paquiza de Linzola.
Views of the Mesa de los Tres Reyes, Petrechema, Acherito and Chinebral de Gamueta, among others, from the summit of Lapakiza.

We pass over the corridor that climbs up the west face and start to descend in a straight line in a north-westerly direction, taking advantage of the snowfields if there are any.

Snow in Lapakiza Linzola at the beginning of May.

In a few minutes we managed to connect with the...

(5h05min; 14,6kms) GR12 (1.767m)The label is perfectly marked in white and red.

The GR12 with the peak of Lapazarra in the foreground.

We follow it until we reach a pass before Larreria, where we leave the GR to descend following some milestones to the south, along the Peña del Rey path. Another option is to descend from the Larreria pass following the PR-NA 203. In a few minutes we find ourselves immersed in a leafy forest of pine and beech trees.

The Txamantxoia stands out in the background, among the vegetation.

We easily follow the path that, along the left bank of the ravine, takes us to the bottom of the valley. The next stretch runs along the bed of the ravine (a problem in the thawing season), until it joins a path on the left bank of the ravine, which takes us to the bottom of the valley.

(6h15min; 19,1kms) track (1.035m) coming from the road. From this point onwards, we will find signs and posters of the different routes in the area. Following the white and yellow signposts of the PR-NA 203 we return to the...

(6h35min; 20,5kms) Mata de Haya (980m).

Maps:

Belagua and Zuriza (Pyrenean Maps).

  • Editorial: Sua Edizioak
  • Language: Spanish
  • ISBN-10 : 8482165887
  • ISBN-13 : 978-8482165882
  • Publication: 2015

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